What to do if the toilet is clogged with toilet paper?

Long gone are the days when old newspapers and a trash can were integral accessories of domestic toilets. For many years now we have been using toilet paper - clean, soft, quickly soluble in water. However, this hygiene product can also cause an unpleasant phenomenon - blockage.

Why does this happen?

There may be several reasons for this. Among them:

1. Exceeding the "limit" of paper in the toilet. When there is too much of it, it forms a dense lump that gets stuck at the bottom of the bowl, siphon or drain pipe. The culprits of such incidents are most often children who, fearing to get dirty, tear off long strips from the roll and fold them several times. Repeated repetition of the action leads to the accumulation of meters of cellulose at the bottom of the toilet.
2. The presence of a hidden defect in a ceramic product, which manifests itself over time and prevents the correct operation of plumbing fixtures. Unfortunately, not all manufacturers are responsible for the quality of their products, and their victims are mainly buyers who want to save money.
3. Incorrect installation, for example, installing a sewer outlet at the wrong angle in combination with insufficient water pressure in a toilet with a circular flush.
4. The absence of an air valve on the sewer drain of the upper floor, which maintains stable pressure in the system, preventing the air inside it from becoming rarefied.

Methods for clearing blockages

If such a nuisance still arises in your toilet, you can call plumbers who will quickly, but, alas, not free of charge, eliminate its cause. Another option is to try to solve the problem yourself. So, what can you do with your own hands if the toilet is clogged?

Use a plunger

This “magic” stick with a rubber suction cup is found in almost every home. It needs to be applied to the junction of the bowl with the siphon and act like a pump to provoke a water hammer. As a result, the mass becomes unstuck and is pushed into the drain.

Using a rope with a hook

If the lump is very large and you cannot break it, use a plumbing rope. This is a device with a handle at one end and a rigid metal spring or hook at the other. It is inserted into the hole in the toilet and screwed into the sewer channel. Having reached the goal, the hard end catches the paper and pushes further. By rotating the cable in the opposite direction, you can pull the mass out and throw it in the trash..

Household chemicals

If mechanical efforts do not produce results or you simply do not want to strain and get dirty, use commercially available chemicals. They are poured into the toilet for a certain time and speed up the decomposition process, and then flushed away. At the same time, your hands and clothes remain clean, but your wallet loses a little weight.

Attention! When using chemicals, follow the instructions and ensure skin and respiratory protection.

Folk remedies

If you don’t have a plunger or cable in your house, use an unnecessary towel rolled up and tied with a tight rope or any other old thing. The homemade design, however, will have to be inserted into the drain by hand (of course, after putting a household glove on it), but it is capable of pushing through even a large lump of paper.

You can try another available remedy: baking soda. Pour it into the toilet and pour very hot water over it. Alkali and heat will promote dissolution.

Attention! It is advisable not to use hot boiling water, and also to avoid contact with high-temperature liquids on the walls of the toilet bowl - this can cause cracking of the ceramics.

Preventive measures

To avoid toilet paper clogging your toilet:

• buy plumbing fixtures from trusted manufacturerswho care about their reputation and supply quality products. Check the quality certificate, save receipts so that, if necessary, replace an unusable copy;
• install the toilet correctly, in accordance with the user manual. If you have even the slightest doubt about your talent as a plumber, it is better to contact specialists;
• teach all household members, especially children, to use toilet paper sparingly, of course, within the necessary limits. If that doesn’t work, suggest washing it off in parts. A little more water will be consumed, but the risk of blockage will be minimized.

Any item requires careful handling. Use the toilet correctly, do not throw unnecessary things into it, and it will serve you flawlessly throughout its entire service life.